Chad Olson
Content
Page 2
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Raymond-Prinsburg News
Viewpoints
The New Girl in Town
By Laura Prosser For Chad Olson working, two jobs and dealing with a reading handicap is just another day in his busy schedule. "I'm a mechanic, a janitor, a grease monkey, whatever you need," Olson said. Olson has worked for the area's bus company for nine years, working with the buses from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. "I do all the stuff to make sure they're running," Olson said. During his time there he has also split his days with Impact Plastics where he works as a janitorial staff member from 5:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. "I like this. It isn't a fulltime job, but you're busy always doing something," Olson said. Indeed, Olson lives a very busy life and he refuses to see his difficulty with reading as anything to hold him back. "It isn't really a handicap," Olson said. "I read enough to figure out what I'm doing." Anyone who says differently would be a fool because not only does Olson navigate his janitorial jobs with skill, his work with the buses is pristine. "Everyone helps me here, they give me advice, though I prefer my own opinion," Olson amended. With their help he hopes to get his bus driving license to add another job to his list of skills. "I'd like to show some people in town that I can drive a school bus," Olson said. "It takes a lot of reading but we're working on it down here and we're going to get my liscense." Olson hopes that in two or three years he will be a certified bus driver, though not a permanent one because he's not willing to give up his other jobs to do so. "I'm a busy beaver, I keep myself busy," Olson said. "If you don't keep yourself busy you get really bored." However, his jobs aren't his only life. On his one day off he can be found fishing,
Chad Olson the self proclaimed grease monkey splits his time between being a mechanic for buses and a janitor for Impact plastics though what he really has his sight set on is getting his bus drivers license. watching T.V. or throwing bean bags once in awhile. More than those activities, it is likely you will find him helping someone out. "Everybody helps everybody else out here," Olson said. "If I see a problem, I give someone a jingle and I try and get it fixed." A man not only busy on his work days but also on his off days is most definitely someone who is never bored. "It's just me, the whole community knows I'm a person who likes to help," Olson said.
Midafternoon most days Olson can be found with his head peeking out of the engine of a school bus or on cold winter days warming up the engines. Just doing the work that he enjoys and keeping himself busy.
To the Editor: An Obituary Today we mourn the passing of an old friend, Common Sense. Common Sense lived a long life, but finally died of heart failure. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He selflessly devoted his life to service in schools, hospitals and factories and offices. He helped folks get jobs done without failure and foolishness. For decades, silly laws, petty rules and frivolous lawsuits held no power over Common Sense. He was credited with cultivating such valuable lessons as: knowing when to come in out of the rain; why the early bird gets the worm; and life isn’t always fair. Common sense lived by sound financial policies (don¹t spend more than you can earn) and reliable parenting strategies , and the idea that it is all right to come in second sometimes.
A veteran of the Industrial Revolution, the Great Depression, and the Technological Evolution, Common Sense survived cultural and educational trends, including body piercing, whole language, ebonics and new math. His health declined when he became infected with the “if it only helps one person, it’s worth it” bug. In recent decades his waning strength proved no match for ravages of overbearing federal regulations. He watched in pain as good people became ruled by self-seeking lawyers, and enlightened auditors. Common Sense knew the end was near when schools endlessly implemented zero tolerance policies, reports of six year old boys charged with sexual harassment for kissing a school mate, a teen suspended for taking a swig of mouthwash after lunch, and a teacher suspended and fired for reprimanding an unruly student. When schools had to get pa-
rental permission to administer an aspirin to a student, but could not inform a parent when a female is pregnant and wants an abortion. Finally, Common Sense lost his will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband, churches became businesses, criminals received better treatment than the victims, and federal judges stuck their noses in everything from Boy Scouts to the professional sports. Common Sense drifted in and out of consciousness, but was kept informed of developments regarding questionable regulations for asbestos, lowflow toilets, smart guns, the nurturing of prohibition laws and mandatory air bags. Common sense was preceded in death by his parents, truth and trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason. His was a lonesome funeral as few attended by any who showed any real care. William R. Somerville Raymond
T hRee Buns
and a Hurricane
characteristically inactive, and napped without noticing the other boys tearing the room apart. Thinking we had really gotten away with something, as his health improved and the other boys stayed well, we tried to get back to normal. Saturday morning we found the other two little ones had thrown up overnight, but seemed fine then and proceeded to eat and drink and act normal. With plans to go to the Home & Garden Show in Minneapolis we left the boys in grandma’s care, who assured us she would handle them, which we didn’t doubt. We went to the home show, and on our way back decided we would stop at the Red Lodge in Waverly for supper. A side note . . . if you have not been there, go. It has been absolutely delicious every time we’ve stopped. We sat down and I ordered a Coke and Jesse’s phone rang. It was our brother-in-law, telling us the ambulance was coming to take Rex to the hospital, as he had a seizure. We apologized to the waitress and ran back out to the car, still an hour away. Horrible thoughts ran through my head as I cried all the way to Willmar, wondering what this meant and if our lives were about to change forever. I thought our first trip to the ER would be because one of the boys tried to fly off the balcony or something, I told Jesse. He held it together well, held my hand, and did not develop road rage toward the idiots In answer to the question . . . excuse, too. Those are the missing last two words of last week’s column. Maybe I should send my piece in sooner than an hour before the paper goes to print, so the editor has time to make sure it all fits. I have said before in this space that song lyrics speak to me, and quoted John Lennon saying, “Life is what happens to you when you’re busy making other plans.” I keep that in the forefront of my mind, reminding me that I can’t control everything. It helps me accept the unexpected changes that face us regularly in this crazy house. We had tickets to a concert in St. Paul Monday night, tickets I bought months ago with every intention of going. Life happened. Last Tuesday I visited with someone about having sick kids. This woman has one child who has battled the flu this season, and she thought that was bad but wondered what someone such as myself, with multiple kids, would do if they all got sick at once. Luckily, I told her, that hasn’t happened to us. The next day the flu struck our house. Boo. Spoke too soon. It was one child at first who threw up once and had problems with the other end for a few days. This included the absolute nastiest diaper I’ve ever changed, out of thousands, the kind where the child and his clothes go straight to the shower. After that he lay on the couch, un-
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ESTABLISHED NOV. 23, 1900 Published every Wednesday at Raymond, MInnesota 56282. Periodicals postage paid at Raymond, MInnesota. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE NEWS, Box 157, Raymond, MN 56282. Phone/fax 320-967-4244 Email: [email protected] Email [email protected]
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PO Box 157 Raymond MN 56282
Please include your phone number
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who go 50 mph then speed up in the sporadic passing lanes on Highway 12. Arriving in the emergency wing of Rice Memorial we found our sweet Rex, down to his diaper, with his grandma and uncle by his side. The four of us stayed there with him for hours, as he was hooked to an IV, poked and tested. It was determined he had a febrile seizure, brought on by a fastrising high fever and dehydration. These are terrifying to parents, and in our case aunt, uncle, and grandparents who were there with him, but relatively harmless. We brought him home that night, to other sick, overtired children who needed attention. Eventually exhaustion set in for them and we lay them around the sectional, where Axel was already asleep. Jesse and I finally fell asleep on the floor wearing our clothes, contacts in, never having eaten supper. So what does someone like myself do when all of her kids are sick at one time? Whatever is necessary. Pray and thank God for family. Don’t go to concerts. There’s no time to eat. Housework and personal hygiene definitely suffer. Hold as many kids that will fit in the lap as possible. Give them extra naps. Maybe call for reinforcements. And as bittersweet as it is, repeat over and over the fact that three sick, helpless little boys want nothing more than to be held and comforted by their mom and dad, something I have come to treasure.
Subscription Rates:
In Kandiyohi County, and for Clara City and Kerkhoven addresses,$30 $26 per year; Out of area but in state,$32 $30 per year; Out of state, $34 $32 per year. To receive Western Peach out of area and state, add $6. Subscriptions are non-refundable. Advertising rates upon request.
isproduced produced through through the is theefforts effortsof of
Bev Ahlquist, Freelance Reporter Josie Oliver & Laura Prosser, Editors TJ Publishers TJ& &KARI KARI JO JO ALMEN, ALMEN, Publishers Official newspaper for the City of Raymond, City of Prinsburg and MACCRAY School District #2180.
Member of the Minnesota Western Peach, the Minnesota Newspaper Assn., and the National Newspaper Assn.
Missy Bodin, Graphic Editor Artist Courtney Casperson, Char Bestge, Composition Bev Ahlquist, Freelance Reporter
Minnesota Western Peach 320-264-3071 Published Since 1900 TJ and Kari Jo Almen, Publishers
5,>:
THE RAYMOND-PRINSBURG
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Raymond-Prinsburg News
Viewpoints
The New Girl in Town
By Laura Prosser For Chad Olson working, two jobs and dealing with a reading handicap is just another day in his busy schedule. "I'm a mechanic, a janitor, a grease monkey, whatever you need," Olson said. Olson has worked for the area's bus company for nine years, working with the buses from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. "I do all the stuff to make sure they're running," Olson said. During his time there he has also split his days with Impact Plastics where he works as a janitorial staff member from 5:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. "I like this. It isn't a fulltime job, but you're busy always doing something," Olson said. Indeed, Olson lives a very busy life and he refuses to see his difficulty with reading as anything to hold him back. "It isn't really a handicap," Olson said. "I read enough to figure out what I'm doing." Anyone who says differently would be a fool because not only does Olson navigate his janitorial jobs with skill, his work with the buses is pristine. "Everyone helps me here, they give me advice, though I prefer my own opinion," Olson amended. With their help he hopes to get his bus driving license to add another job to his list of skills. "I'd like to show some people in town that I can drive a school bus," Olson said. "It takes a lot of reading but we're working on it down here and we're going to get my liscense." Olson hopes that in two or three years he will be a certified bus driver, though not a permanent one because he's not willing to give up his other jobs to do so. "I'm a busy beaver, I keep myself busy," Olson said. "If you don't keep yourself busy you get really bored." However, his jobs aren't his only life. On his one day off he can be found fishing,
Chad Olson the self proclaimed grease monkey splits his time between being a mechanic for buses and a janitor for Impact plastics though what he really has his sight set on is getting his bus drivers license. watching T.V. or throwing bean bags once in awhile. More than those activities, it is likely you will find him helping someone out. "Everybody helps everybody else out here," Olson said. "If I see a problem, I give someone a jingle and I try and get it fixed." A man not only busy on his work days but also on his off days is most definitely someone who is never bored. "It's just me, the whole community knows I'm a person who likes to help," Olson said.
Midafternoon most days Olson can be found with his head peeking out of the engine of a school bus or on cold winter days warming up the engines. Just doing the work that he enjoys and keeping himself busy.
To the Editor: An Obituary Today we mourn the passing of an old friend, Common Sense. Common Sense lived a long life, but finally died of heart failure. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He selflessly devoted his life to service in schools, hospitals and factories and offices. He helped folks get jobs done without failure and foolishness. For decades, silly laws, petty rules and frivolous lawsuits held no power over Common Sense. He was credited with cultivating such valuable lessons as: knowing when to come in out of the rain; why the early bird gets the worm; and life isn’t always fair. Common sense lived by sound financial policies (don¹t spend more than you can earn) and reliable parenting strategies , and the idea that it is all right to come in second sometimes.
A veteran of the Industrial Revolution, the Great Depression, and the Technological Evolution, Common Sense survived cultural and educational trends, including body piercing, whole language, ebonics and new math. His health declined when he became infected with the “if it only helps one person, it’s worth it” bug. In recent decades his waning strength proved no match for ravages of overbearing federal regulations. He watched in pain as good people became ruled by self-seeking lawyers, and enlightened auditors. Common Sense knew the end was near when schools endlessly implemented zero tolerance policies, reports of six year old boys charged with sexual harassment for kissing a school mate, a teen suspended for taking a swig of mouthwash after lunch, and a teacher suspended and fired for reprimanding an unruly student. When schools had to get pa-
rental permission to administer an aspirin to a student, but could not inform a parent when a female is pregnant and wants an abortion. Finally, Common Sense lost his will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband, churches became businesses, criminals received better treatment than the victims, and federal judges stuck their noses in everything from Boy Scouts to the professional sports. Common Sense drifted in and out of consciousness, but was kept informed of developments regarding questionable regulations for asbestos, lowflow toilets, smart guns, the nurturing of prohibition laws and mandatory air bags. Common sense was preceded in death by his parents, truth and trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason. His was a lonesome funeral as few attended by any who showed any real care. William R. Somerville Raymond
T hRee Buns
and a Hurricane
characteristically inactive, and napped without noticing the other boys tearing the room apart. Thinking we had really gotten away with something, as his health improved and the other boys stayed well, we tried to get back to normal. Saturday morning we found the other two little ones had thrown up overnight, but seemed fine then and proceeded to eat and drink and act normal. With plans to go to the Home & Garden Show in Minneapolis we left the boys in grandma’s care, who assured us she would handle them, which we didn’t doubt. We went to the home show, and on our way back decided we would stop at the Red Lodge in Waverly for supper. A side note . . . if you have not been there, go. It has been absolutely delicious every time we’ve stopped. We sat down and I ordered a Coke and Jesse’s phone rang. It was our brother-in-law, telling us the ambulance was coming to take Rex to the hospital, as he had a seizure. We apologized to the waitress and ran back out to the car, still an hour away. Horrible thoughts ran through my head as I cried all the way to Willmar, wondering what this meant and if our lives were about to change forever. I thought our first trip to the ER would be because one of the boys tried to fly off the balcony or something, I told Jesse. He held it together well, held my hand, and did not develop road rage toward the idiots In answer to the question . . . excuse, too. Those are the missing last two words of last week’s column. Maybe I should send my piece in sooner than an hour before the paper goes to print, so the editor has time to make sure it all fits. I have said before in this space that song lyrics speak to me, and quoted John Lennon saying, “Life is what happens to you when you’re busy making other plans.” I keep that in the forefront of my mind, reminding me that I can’t control everything. It helps me accept the unexpected changes that face us regularly in this crazy house. We had tickets to a concert in St. Paul Monday night, tickets I bought months ago with every intention of going. Life happened. Last Tuesday I visited with someone about having sick kids. This woman has one child who has battled the flu this season, and she thought that was bad but wondered what someone such as myself, with multiple kids, would do if they all got sick at once. Luckily, I told her, that hasn’t happened to us. The next day the flu struck our house. Boo. Spoke too soon. It was one child at first who threw up once and had problems with the other end for a few days. This included the absolute nastiest diaper I’ve ever changed, out of thousands, the kind where the child and his clothes go straight to the shower. After that he lay on the couch, un-
®
Send us your letters to the editor
ESTABLISHED NOV. 23, 1900 Published every Wednesday at Raymond, MInnesota 56282. Periodicals postage paid at Raymond, MInnesota. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE NEWS, Box 157, Raymond, MN 56282. Phone/fax 320-967-4244 Email: [email protected] Email [email protected]
[email protected]
PO Box 157 Raymond MN 56282
Please include your phone number
The News THE NEWS
or
who go 50 mph then speed up in the sporadic passing lanes on Highway 12. Arriving in the emergency wing of Rice Memorial we found our sweet Rex, down to his diaper, with his grandma and uncle by his side. The four of us stayed there with him for hours, as he was hooked to an IV, poked and tested. It was determined he had a febrile seizure, brought on by a fastrising high fever and dehydration. These are terrifying to parents, and in our case aunt, uncle, and grandparents who were there with him, but relatively harmless. We brought him home that night, to other sick, overtired children who needed attention. Eventually exhaustion set in for them and we lay them around the sectional, where Axel was already asleep. Jesse and I finally fell asleep on the floor wearing our clothes, contacts in, never having eaten supper. So what does someone like myself do when all of her kids are sick at one time? Whatever is necessary. Pray and thank God for family. Don’t go to concerts. There’s no time to eat. Housework and personal hygiene definitely suffer. Hold as many kids that will fit in the lap as possible. Give them extra naps. Maybe call for reinforcements. And as bittersweet as it is, repeat over and over the fact that three sick, helpless little boys want nothing more than to be held and comforted by their mom and dad, something I have come to treasure.
Subscription Rates:
In Kandiyohi County, and for Clara City and Kerkhoven addresses,$30 $26 per year; Out of area but in state,$32 $30 per year; Out of state, $34 $32 per year. To receive Western Peach out of area and state, add $6. Subscriptions are non-refundable. Advertising rates upon request.
isproduced produced through through the is theefforts effortsof of
Bev Ahlquist, Freelance Reporter Josie Oliver & Laura Prosser, Editors TJ Publishers TJ& &KARI KARI JO JO ALMEN, ALMEN, Publishers Official newspaper for the City of Raymond, City of Prinsburg and MACCRAY School District #2180.
Member of the Minnesota Western Peach, the Minnesota Newspaper Assn., and the National Newspaper Assn.
Missy Bodin, Graphic Editor Artist Courtney Casperson, Char Bestge, Composition Bev Ahlquist, Freelance Reporter
Minnesota Western Peach 320-264-3071 Published Since 1900 TJ and Kari Jo Almen, Publishers
5,>:
THE RAYMOND-PRINSBURG
